BROOKHILL LEYS PRIMARY SCHOOL
MULTI-CULTURAL EDUCATION.
In considering a multi-cultural statement for our school,
we first need to consider a number of issues. We are
living in a multi-cultural society, that is a society
composed of many overlapping groups each with its own
pattern of behaviour and belief. It is important that
our school statement reflects this and that it links
with our school aims. Consideration must be given to
the curriculum, ethos, attitudes, approaches to teaching,
learning and resources.
Multi-cultural education prepares a child for life in
a society composed of people from different cultural
backgrounds. We have few families from minority
ethnic backgrounds in school, but we acknowledge the
importance of multi-cultural education and the handling
of relevant issues. Our role is to help children to view
the diversity of culture in a positive sense and to develop
awareness and acceptance of other cultures. We need to
encourage attitudes which develop self esteem for every
child, the fostering of mutual respect between individuals
and groups and an understanding of the values and attitudes
of others.
We must be aware of pupils’ backgrounds, which
will include having an understanding of different cultural
and religious attitudes to disability, disasters, death,
marriage and naming. Such an awareness of diverse views
and expectations contributes towards creating a supportive
ethos within school. We also need to be sensitive towards
children who are observing religious practices and festivals.
Through the curriculum we hope to reflect a diversity
of cultures in society today. We use a cross curricular
approach which takes account of multi-cultural perspectives
and through integrated topic work hope to develop an
awareness of other cultures. We celebrate festivals and
teach the children about customs from many different
cultures. We also acknowledge that through the hidden
curriculum children will learn about relationships, expectations,
values and attitudes. We also hope to encourage in children
a sense of responsibility for their actions and an understanding
of the result of their actions on others. Racist incidents
in school are few, but if they occur they are dealt with
immediately and investigated thoroughly. Our approach
to these incidents is discussed in our behaviour and
discipline and equal opportunities policies.
Great importance is attached to display in school. Posters,
notices, signs, children’s work, artefacts and
photographs all form part of our statement about multi-cultural
education and the school’s philosophy.
In terms of resources, we are aware that books, materials
and equipment should reflect multi-cultural perspectives.
We try to ensure that literature offered to children
is non-sexist, non-racist and that it does not reflect
any stereotyped images of any particular group either
in the text or the illustrations. A continual and gradual
replacement process of resources takes place and we hope
to purchase positive, carefully chosen resources. Classrooms
and the library hold a diversity of books. Teacher’s
resources [books and artefacts] for multi-cultural
education are kept outside the Foundation Unit in lower
school, and in the resources room in Upper school.
Children in school are encouraged to care for each
other, respect each other’s point of view and work
together happily. A positive approach towards multi-cultural
education should further enhance this philosophy.
Please see Brookhill Leys Primary School’s Equal
Opportunities Statement for complimentary views to multi-cultural
education.
Suzal Mehmet
Co-ordinator for Multi- Cultural Education.
February 2007.
The next date for review will be February 2010.
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